Rheumatoid Arthritis (and its variants) :

do you have to have RA a long time? - - Posted by lam651 (lam651), 23 August 2003

That is do you have to have RA a long time before they can detect it? Everything I've read about RA say it is best handled if detected early. But every test I have to try to find out what joint desease I have comes back inconclusive.

I'm having a very hard time of it. I have a history of bones not healing, and I've had such a tough time going without nsaids since March that everyone is in agreement that I must have RH, lupus or some joint desease probably other than OA. If you test negative for RF factor does that rule out RA, or does that just mean I tested negative that day?

I know I need to see a rheumatologist, but since they take months to get in to see, I feel like I need to be more concerned with my current leg in an external fixator and more upcoming surgeries than more inconclusive tests.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent my frustrations a little and if anyone has experienced something similar and has advice or insight I'd like to hear it.
Thanks, Larry

PS My OS says he isn't concerned about me having some undiagnosed desease to recommend doing anything about it now.
Posted by flower (flower), 24 August 2003

hi liam its me again just to give more info about if u have R,A or not.
I pested my G.P for 4 years before they would even look into the fact that i may have R.A, because they could not see any evidence.It took another year before they would do a blood test, then i was told it may not show up the first time and once in a while it never shows but they give the drugs that r needed and then u have to wait for it to show up on x-rays which can take years.
My nan never had it confirmed though blood test she had to wait for it to show bone damage on x-rays.which took 14 years.
I dont mean to scare u like this but i myself have found it nearly impossible to collect info on R.A.
I've tried all the known drugs for R.A and now i've been told i have to have injections, again little info given so looking for myself on that one.All the best flower

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